The Palm Beach Post covers Clint Curtis in an article yesterday, headlined “Paper-trail advocate to air rigging concerns”. The detailed article is occassioned by Curtis’ “official audience this week with the committee advising Palm Beach County on voting technology.”
Those not familiar with the extraordinary tale which we broke exclusively back in December of 2004, can read a short summary of the remarkable story here. It essentially concerns Curtis’ sworn allegations that former Florida House Speaker, now U.S. Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL), asked him to create vote-rigging software back when Curtis worked as a programmer for the Oveido, FL software firm Yang Enterprises Inc. (YEI). At the time, Feeney, in addition to leading the FL statehouse, was also the general counsel and a registered lobbyist for YEI.
The story also concerns Curtis’ long-standing and now-verified claims that YEI was employing a now-convicted Chinese spy and was also engaged in massively overcharging on contracts such as the one it had with the Florida Department of Transporation. As well, there is the startling tale of the untimely, and unexplained demise of the Florida Inspector General, Raymond Lemme, who had been investigating Curtis’ charges against YEI and Feeney. Curtis has since passed a polygraph test concerning these charges.
The Post piece covers much of the territory, of course, that BRAD BLOG readers familiar with our year-long plus Clint Curtis coverage will know well by now. Apparently, reporter George Bennett has spent quite a bit of time reading our work here, which we are happy to see.
The downside of the Post article, is the usual misrepresentation of information disquised as “balance” that we see so often these days, not just in coverage of Curtis, but in the MSM in general. Eg., Bennett feels it important, and properly so, to give YEI’s attorney’s rebuttal to Curtis’ charges. But, of course, Bennett then fails to point out that YEI’s attorney is also Feeney’s old law partner dating back to just prior to his joining the U.S. Congress. Bennett also fails to point out that both YEI and their attorney continue to be large donors to Feeney and that Feeney has continued to lie about his ongoing relationship with the company.
That’s just one example of the downsides. The upside, however, is hopefully the additional attention to Curtis’ story at a time when a host of new questions are arising concerning Tom Feeney’s corruption (he was, you know, on one of those now-infamous trips to St. Andrews to play golf, like Tom DeLay and Bob Ney, for example!)
In addition to this latest article, we have reason to believe there will be still more information and coverage elsewhere of the continuing Clint Curtis saga soon…
UPDATE 1/31/05: We were contacted today by George Bennett, author of the recent Curtis piece in the Palm Beach Post. He had the following reply to this blog item:
“Eg., Bennett feels it important, and properly so, to give YEI’s attorney’s rebuttal to Curtis’ charges. But, of course, Bennett then fails to point out that YEI’s attorney is also Feeney’s old law partner dating back to just prior to his joining the U.S. Congress.”
Actually, after I made a few calls to YEI, the person who returned my call and introduced himself as YEI’s general counsel was named Charles Harrison, who has a law office in Winter Park. He does not appear to be connected to Feeney’s old law firm. If O’Quinn or somebody from that firm had spoken on behalf of YEI, I would have noted the connection to Feeney.
The BRAD BLOG appreciates Bennett’s clarification, and we’re happy to post it here for the record.
The Clint Curtis/Tom Feeney/Yang Enterprises Vote-Rigging Scandal series, please see:
– A Quick Summary of the story so far.
– An Index of all the Key Articles & Evidence in the series so far.
Fenney was the first slimeball I learned to loath.
Unfortunately, there have been so many others.
But hey, this is great.
Way to go Clint!!! A hero in today’s times of wimpy ass politicians and journalists.
As with Sibel Edmonds’ case I wonder how soon the white-wash house will get a gag order on him.
So for the time being, sing loud and long Clint!!
His testimony and story maybe the key to get the sheeple to wake up to the vote rigging problems.
Feeney, too.
Bennett starts slanting his story halfway through the first sentence: "a familiar name to those who follow election-stealling allegations on the INTERNET" (emphasis mine). Curtis is "claiming" that "His disputed story" is true. While Curtis "says" he wrote the program, Feeney "flatly denies" Curtis’ story. Yang Enterprises "denies" Curtis’ claims and its lawyer "says" it has never written elections software, while Curtis "admits" he has no hard evidence to back up his "claims." You get the idea.
What really had me chuckling was the phrase "liberal Fox News personality"–as if there is such a thing–to describe the less-conservative-than-Hannity Alan Colmes. Even if he had "Liberal" tatooed on his forehead, Colmes’ comment is hardly balanced or "liberal":
"IF what you are CLAIMING is true (present tense), I WOULD HAVE (past tense=what you are saying is NOT true) shouted it from the rooftops." (emphasis and comments mine)
But at least he’s covering it, and does end with a terrific quote from Curtis. "Why? Because they can." That says it all.
Now’s the time to come out, Clint. There’s so many against the Bush regime, they can’t knock off EVERYBODY! It would be too obvious.
Ride the tide, Clint…now’s the time.
You’re behind Belfonte, Sibel Edmonds, the U.S. military, John Conyers, Brad, and many others, on the Bush hit list. They can’t wiretap all these people, either. There’s too many!
I thought I saw Bush in "Best Buy", buying out the whole store’s wiretap supply!
It’s great to see this story is getting "some" coverage,even if the amount is minimal!You would think that after so many stories of incredible corruption having been exposed,the public would have at least a slight impulse to dig in and try to find the truth.Sometimes the people in this country drive me crazy!!!Just to think that so many brain dead,brainwashed,and just plain ignorant imbeciles live here,it makes me want to move to another country,somewhere people have the GUTS to stand up against Ideologues and Dictators,not cower and bow down, in FEAR OF SOME BOOGEYMAN,whereas some of them deserve what they get,the poor fools!!
Ever since this story began to unfold I have been amongst the throngs of Bradonians waiting for this to get some mainstream press.
Although it’s not a lot to start, at least it is getting some notice.
Here’s hoping it builds until it no longer can remain underground!
Timeline:
July 2003: Ray Lemme found dead in Valdosta, GA. motel room. Lemme lives in Tallahasse, FL., and is investigating corruption in the Florida D.O.T. He has told Clint Curtis that his investigation has revealed corruption that goes "all the way to the top."
July 2003: Ray Lemme’s death ruled a suicide by Valdosta P.D., even though he had no evident reason to end his life and was eagerly awaiting the wedding of his daughter…his only child. He also had no particular reason to be in Valdosta…except that Georgia has no mandatory autopsy law, unlike Lemme’s home state of Florida.
Nov. 2004: After Lemme’s "suicide" is called into question by Bradblog and others, the Valdosta P.D. agrees to reopen the case. Many facts remain inconsistent with the finding of suicide, particularly regarding Lemme’s movements before his death.
Dec. 2004: After agreeing to reopen the case, the Valdosta P.D. immediately shuts it down again at the request of an unnamed person at the Florida D.O.T. It remains shut down.
The office of the Georgia attorney general has refused to respond to demands that the case be investigated.
Clint seems to me, given what I know of him from reading all of the articles available here that detail his story, to be a very dynamic person. I picture him as being kind of beyond, or at least not fully involved with, what we might refer to as social structure (at least on a mainstream level). But he seems to be a very pragmatic, dynamic person who (and it’s not possible to say this in a way that is lauding enough) has a profoundly developed sense of integrity–which term I personally use to sum up a package-deal involving honor, strength, courage, tenacity, respect for everything/one in the world around one’s self, personal pride (the good kind), hard work ethic, and, most importantly, a natural sense for what is empirically RIGHT and a complete and total absence of ability to even consider backing down from it or selling it out for ANYTHING. EVER.
All of the things I’ve just said I attribute to him are also requisites in a description of my father (who, coincidentally, is also of a profession that is traditionally viewed as being within a somehow sub-social, "pocket protector" grouping–that of engineers), which is the reason I am able to so deftly pull them out of what few words are written on Clint, personally.
But I could be wrong. When all the laundry gets done and folded and we can all breathe a little easier and have a bit of reason to celebrate, you should do a piece on Clint Curtis: the man behind the name, Brad. I’m sure most, if not all, of us would love to learn more about this figure who is virtually assured of playing such a dynamic and weighty role in the events that are currently unfolding. Just a thought (or perhaps a request?).
Interesting thought, Jeff…Will keep that in mind for down the road. He is, indeed, a very interesting guy and perhaps one of the bravest folks I’ve ever had the honor to meet and get to know. He’s certainly managed to earn my respect along the way. He’s also very funny, quirky and quite a character as you suggest!
How is Sue doing? Itsinteresting to see libertarians on this website.
Didn’t the Valdosta police also cover up some digital photos of the crime scene?
They said the card in the camera was erased but then the photos showed up later?
The story that brought me here to Bradblog in the first place, sometime in 2004, is still gaining momentum – is that cool or what? *grins* Good thing we have patience, huh?
Every time I start to lose hope, I come here and find something that says without a doubt that our hard work is paying off.
Nice to know the fire is still burning.
Thanks y’all *s*
🙂
Robert Lockwood Mills and some others here, including myself, would like to see Clint run against Tom Feeney.
Now that would be the textbook case for the political concept of accountability.
When ya gonna announce Clint?
I’m hoping out here in Ohio that the recount challenge suit will start heating up and refocus attention on the findings of Conyers’ hearings, including Curtis’ testimony there.
Is Florida TOALLY corrupt??
I knew about the Catherine Harris vote scrubbing thing, (and I hope everyone knows as well), but I didn’t know anything about this.
Up here in MN, all we seem to have is a moronic Sec of State that isn’t notifying districts of voting law changes and some other stuff. I sure there’s more going on.
What is wrong with these people?? How can they possibly justify this?
NeilDeal, We gots Jaeb fur a Gubner down heah
Whad cha Ecxpeact?
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